Ridge Soaring Clouds

Hi Gang
Maybe you do occasionally what I am about to describe or maybe you
have never done it. Regardless it is something you should be aware of.
Firstly a disclaimer. What I am about to describe may be technically
illegal where you fly and I am not suggesting you do it. However it
can be fun.
On a thermal day columns of warm air rise falling in temperature
until dew point is reached and a cloud if formed. Now if there is a
wind gradient with height then the air will flow around the hot column
of air slowly pushing the column of air in the direction of the air
flow. At the cloud the adjacent air will both flow around the cloud
and over the cloud. This usually is very visible by the wedge shape
leading edge of the cloud and the down loops on the trailing edge. Air
ultimately mixes but it take time to do so and the cloud can be viewed
as a hill along the leading edge. Especially when there is a good
vertical wind gradient at cloud level this can provide cloud ridge
soaring possibilities.
So when the clouds indicate a wind gradient climb up to cloud base
as you normally do and make your way to the leading edge and then to
just in front of the leading edge where you should find lift. Then
surf the leading edge getting higher and further back until you are on
top of the cloud and above the cloud. Be very careful not to get
trapped in the cloud which is constantly forming at the leading edge.
Then leave the top of the cloud for another cloud that you can reach
before getting below cloud base and repeat the procedure. Leave each
cloud top from the leading edge direction and not the lee side
otherwise you will find sink.
On a good day and with suitable conditions you can do good distance
flights never going below cloudbase. In general it is slower to do
distance using cloud ridge soaring technigues than normal thermaling
below cloudbase but it can be a blast. A couple of days ago in a far
off southern country I was able to achieve over 2 hours of this type
of soaring arriving back over the field at 12.5k whereas all other
gliders were below 9k. Cloud base was 9k and the maximum height of the
clouds just over 12k.
Comments?
Dave